Four authors read from this collection of Italian-American autobiographical works edited by Lee Gutkind and Joanna Clapps Herman. This anthology consists of twenty-one original essays on the myriad ways Italian ancestry accents the lives of Americans, addressing topics such as the enduring power of the evil eye, turbulent relationships between husbands and wives, as well as parents and children, and the nostalgia for a father's accordion, to name a few. Contributors include novelists, scholars, critics, and memoirists from across the country who explore the unique intersections of language, tradition, cuisine, and culture that characterize the diverse experience of Americans of Italian heritage.

“Almost every essay in the collection explores the notion of someone surrendering a major part of themselves for the greater good of their family. The stories are inspiring, but they also give the collection a bittersweet flavor. In the end, this welcome collection challenges preconceived notions about Italian Americans.